Click for big version

Son accepts father's award

1 April 2005 Three-year old Campbell Taylor holds the medal posthumously awarded to his late father, Duncan Taylor. Detective Constable Taylor received the New Zealand Bravery Medal after losing his life in the line of duty in 2002. His citation reads: "At about 1.00 p.m. on 5 July 2002 Detective Constable Duncan Taylor and Detective Jeanette Park went to Taipo Road, Rongotea to warn a local family that a person known to them may have returned to the area. While talking to the family they saw the person concerned drive past the house. The two officers followed his vehicle, which then stopped. As the Police officers got out of their vehicle the person drove off and returned to the Taipo Road address followed by the Police vehicle. Both vehicles stopped in the driveway of the Taipo Road house and as the two Police officers, who were unarmed, left their car, the occupant of the other car aimed a rifle at Detective Constable Taylor and, without warning, fired a shot which killed him instantly."

© Scoop Media